The Cyclist by Rubi Workshop

 Original Post : https://rubiworkshop.com/portfolio/derek-laan/

미국에 비해서 산이 정말 많아서 너무 아름다운 나라라고 생각했어요. 그래서 여름동안 아름다운 산들을 다니며 백패킹 및 미국식 캠핑을 가르치는 봉사 활동을 행복하게 하면서 한국에 다시 와야겠다 생각을 하고 돌아갔습니다.

Derek Laan is an American competitive cyclist who has lived and worked in Korea for over 12 years.  He grew up in Minnesota in the Twin Cities suburbs and has been racing bikes since he was 13 years old. Having started out in BMX racing he quickly transitioned to Road, Mountain Bike and Cyclocross.  He currently works for a start up in Seoul, South Korea and is a competitive racer and active rider.  It’s his 23rd year of bike racing and we sat down with him to discuss his cycling story, the local racing scene and how he ended up in Korea. 

오늘 인터뷰의 주인공은 미국 출신 자전거 선수 출신이자 한국에서 12년을 지낸 사이클리스트, 데릭 란 입니다. 데릭의 고향은 미국 미네소타 주이고 만 13살 때 부터 자전거 선수를 시작했습니다. 현재 서울에 있는 스타트업에서 일하며 아마추어 자전거 선수로 활동 하고 있습니다. 2022년, 선수 인생 23번째 시즌을 준비 중인 데릭 선수와 다양한 이야기를 나눠봤습니다. 

What are some of the highlights of your cycling career and what kind of racing did you do?
자전거 커리어 중에 가장 큰 하이라이트는 무엇인가요? 주로 어떤 대회들에 나갔나요?

I raced with the goal of becoming a professional racer from age 13-22 and managed to score podiums and top tens in many junior and collegiate races both at the regional and national level.  In college I began focusing primarily on road racing starting in college but am passionate about all kinds of off road riding as well. 

저는 13살때 부터 프로 자전거 선수를 목표로 22살까지 열심히 대회에 참가했고,  주니어 및 대학부 시합에서 포디엄과 10위권의 성적을 꾸준히 유지했습니다.  대학교 때 부터 로드 사이클링에 비중을 두고 꾸준히 대회에 출전 했습니다. 개인적으로는 로드 사이클링 뿐만 아니라 다양한 오프로드 라이딩도 좋아합니다.

Highlights:

1st Place, Depauw University Road Race & Criterium, 2008
2008, 드페 로드레이스 및 크리테리움 (대학부) 1등
Top 5 Finisher, Junior National Cyclocross Championships, 2001 & 2002 
2001, 2002 미국 주니어 내셔널 싸이클로 크로스 챔피언쉽 TOP 5
8th Place, Collegiate National Championship Criterium, Men’s Division 1, 2008
2008, 미국 대학부 내셔널 크리테리움 챔피언십 남자 디비젼 1, 8등
8th Place, Louisville Metro Police Criterium (NRC), Men’s Pro/1, 2008
2008,  로이빌 포시스 크리테리움 (미국 전국 프로 시리즈), 남자 Pro/1, 8등
8th Place, Tour D’Abitibi UCI Junior Stage Race, Stage Finish, 2004
2004, 투르드아비티비 UCI 주니어 스테이지 대회, 스테이지 피니쉬 8등

After moving to Korea to teach English in 2009 I joined my current racing team Team Hustlin which consists of about 15 Korean racers and myself. We typically have 8-10 fast racers each season.  As a team we travel Korea competing in mountain and road events.  I have won several national road and mountain bike competitions since joining the team. 

한국과의 첫 인연은 2009년으로 거슬러 올라갑니다. 저는 영어선생님으로 일하러 한국에 오게 되었습니다. 그 때 현재 소속 된 팀허슬린에 들어가게 되었습니다. 팀허슬린은 저를 포함한 15명 한국 선수들과 1명의 외국인 선수로 구성 되어 있습니다. 보통 일년에 8-10 정도 대회 나가는 사람들 있습니다. 한국에 온 후, 국내 로드 및 mtb 대회에 참가했고, 큰 시합에서 몇 번 우승했습니다. 

Highlights:

1st Place Naju MCT, 2016
종합 1등 나주 MCT 2016년
1st Place Gwangmyeong Criterium 2016
1등 광명 크리테리움 2016년
1st Place Tour De Korea Pretest 2010
1등 투르드코리아 프리테스트 2010년
1st Place Hongcheon Mountain Bike Race 2011
1등 홍천 산악자전거대회 2011년
1st Place Indy Fest Cyclocross 2012
1등 인디페스트 사이클로크로스 2012

What do you do in Korea?
한국에서는 어떤 일을 하고 있나요?

I’ve done several things since moving here including teaching English and doing an MBA at a university in Seoul.  I currently work for a startup which uses autonomous drones and AI technology to inspect wind turbines.  I’m a business development manager which means I have frequent business trips to North America and Europe. 

한국으로 이사를 온 후 다양한 직장에서 한국 사회를 경험했습니다. 저는 영어 선생님으로 커리어를 시작해 경영대학원을 거쳐 현재 드론 및 인공지능 관련 스타트업 다니고 있습니다. 지금 회사에서는 북미 영업을 담당하고 있어서 미국과 유럽 출장을 자주갑니다.  

How did you end up in Korea?
한국에 어떻게 오게 되었어요? 

In 2007 I worked at a YMCA camp in Minnesota for the summer.  The director of the camp is friends with a camp in South Korea and they send a group over every year.  The week the Korean group visited I was in charge of leading them in camping activities in the Boundary Waters.  We had a great time and they invited me to come work at their camp in Korea the next summer.  For the summer of 2007 I came to South Korea to work at their camp and fell in love with the landscape here.  Endless mountains make for a really beautiful country.  I decided after that summer that I would like to try to come back here and now I have lived here for 12 years total. 

Dr. Seuss의 책을 어릴때부터 좋아했어요. 숲에 대한 이야기가 나오는 The Lorax (로렉스)란 책인데 그 책을 정말 열심히 읽었죠. 제가 사는 집 주변에는 숲도 많고 나무도 많고 그야말로 자연과 함께 하는 좋은 환경이었어요. 항상 집 뒤에 있는 숲에서 등산도하고 식물들도 보고, 특히 산악 자전거를 많이 탔어요. 하지만 어느 날 그 숲이 반 정도 없어졌어요. 숲이 사람들에게 팔렸고, 그 사람들은 프라이빗 주택을 만들기 시작했어요. 이제 저는 그 숲을 마음대로 갈 수 없었죠.

그 때 어린 저는 이런 생각을 했어요: “개인들이 혼자 숲을 갖지 말고 나눠가지고, 사람들이 아파트에서 모여 살았으면 좋았을텐데..  이런 아름다운 숲도 다 같이 보고, 도시에서 살아도 다 같이 아웃도어 활동을 할 수 있을텐데…” 그리고 대학생때 YMCA캠프에서 일하던 여름에 한국에서 온 분들과 캠핑 활동 같이 하면서 그 분들이 저를 잘 봐서 한국에서 일 할 수 있도록 초대해주셨습니다. 비행기를 타고 제가 처음 오는 아시아의 서울이란 곳을 바라보는데… 산속에 아무나 개인 주택을 짓지 않고 아파트에 모여 살고 있었어요. 그리고 미국에 비해서 산이 정말 많아서 너무 아름다운 나라라고 생각했어요. 그래서 여름동안 아름다운 산들을 다니며 백패킹 및 미국식 캠핑을 가르치는 봉사 활동을 행복하게 하면서 한국에 다시 와야겠다 생각을 하고 돌아갔습니다.

What is the racing scene like in Korea?
한국의 레이스 환경은 어때요?

Before COVID there was both an active road and mountain bike racing scene.  Most of the mountain bike races are about 25 miles long and take place primarily on fire roads.  The races would draw big numbers with an average race having at least 1,000 riders.

The road scene consists of several gran fondos and independent races along with a national amateur road racing series called the Masters Cycling Tour (MCT) and organized by the Korean Cycling Federation.  They typically hold a 50-60 mile road race once a month with 300 riders in the upper S League and 300 in the lower D league.  All of the racers must be on a registered team to compete.  The 6 race series serves as a qualifier for a year end 3 day stage race and allows teams to maintain their status in the S league. The races are very well organized and the courses nearly 100% closed to traffic.

코로나 전에는 로드 및 mtb 둘다 다양한 대회들 많았습니다. MTB가 인기 많아서 보통 시합 할때 1,000명 넘게 뛰고 임도코스에서 약 40키로 정도 탑니다. 로드는 그란폰도 및 개인 대회도 있고 한국 사이클 연맹 부터 만드는 Masters Cycling Tour (MCT)도 있습니다. 그게는 전국 아마추어 선수들의 시리즈 입니다.

보통 약 100KM정도 타고 팀별 리그로 나눠져 있습니다. 6개월동안 한달에 한번 정도 대회 하면서 연말에 3일 짜리 스테이지 대회도 진행합니다. 매 해 리그 결과에 따라서 팀 변동도 있습니다. 한국에는 이런 대회 시스템들이 아주 잘 만들어져 있고, 대회운영때는 차량통제도 잘 되어서 차가 없는 도로에서 탈 수 있어서 너무 좋습니다. 

Goals for 2022? 
2022년의 목표가 궁금합니다.

With another season up in the air due to Korea’s strict COVID rules it’s not easy to plan goals but if there are any MCT races I plan to participate and finish as best as I can.  Additionally, I’m looking forward to taking my new 3T Racemax on some off road adventures including any gravel racing that might happen.  On top of that I’m planning to try to commute 3 times a week 15 miles each way from my home to my office.  

외국에 비해 한국은 코로나 거리두기 규정이 조금 강한 편이라 아직 대회를 제대로 개최할 수 있을지 모르겠지만 MCT 대회 운영하게 되면 다 참가하고 재미있게 완주하는 목표를 가지고 있습니다. 그리고 새로운 자전거 3T 익스플로로 레이스맥스로 재미있는 오프로드 코스들 많이 다녀오고 싶습니다. 그래블 행사에도 물론 다녀와야죠! 그리고 집에서 회사까지 약 25키로인데 날씨 좋을때 매주 3번 자출하려고 합니다. 

Additionally, in the past few years I’ve had several opportunities to be on TV and model due to my cycling pursuits and fluency in Korean language.  I hope to continue to get these opportunities as they present a unique enjoyable way to use my skill set as a foreign bike racer who speaks fluent Korean. 

또, 한국어도 잘하고 자전거도 잘 타는 외국인이라 최근에 티비출연 및 모델 기회가 가끔 생겼는데요. 이런 기회도 아주 재미있고 제가 잘 할 수 있는 것이라 흥미도 느낍니다. 올해도 이런 기회 있으면 열심히 잡아보려고 합니다. 

5 Reasons I Love Cycling in Seoul

 서울에서 12년을 지내온 외국인 사이클리스트, 데릭이 바라보는 서울의 자전거 문화에 대한 이야기, 루비매거진은 데릭과 함께 서울에서 자전거를 타야하는 5가지 이유에 대해서 함께 이야기를 나누어 봤습니다.

Seoul might not be one of the first cities you think of when it comes to global cycling hubs but after living and riding here for over 10 years I can vouch that it is an amazing city for any serious road cyclist.  Here are 5 reasons that Seoul is a cycling city not to be overlooked. 

서울은 세계적인 자전거 관련 도시 중에서 여러분이 가장 먼저 떠올리는 곳이 아닐지도 모릅니다. 하지만 서울만의 놀라운 자전거 인프라, 아름다운 풍경, 그리고 유쾌한 라이딩 문화는 자전거를 사랑하는 사람들에게 환상적인 환경을 선사합니다. 오늘은 서울이 자전거를 위한 매력적인 도시라는 것을 간과해서는 안 되는 5가지 이유를 나누고자 합니다.

Amazing Bike Path Network

The first thing I love about riding in Seoul is that the large network of bike paths makes for endless miles of traffic free cycling.  Riding in a big city can be annoying due to the constant traffic and needing to stop for traffic lights frequently.  The Han River bike path which follows Korea’s largest river as it winds its way thru Seoul, is truly a work of art when it comes to cycling infrastructure.

대한민국은 전국적으로 지난 20년 동안 전에 없던 규모로 빠르게 교통 없는 자전거 도로를 건설해 왔고 서울은 그 중심에 있습니다.  서울을 가로질러 굽이굽이 흐르는 강, 한강은 대한민국에서 가장 큰 강입니다. 한강을 중심으로 펼쳐진 자전거 길은 자전거 인프라의 예술이라고 표현해도 과언이 아닙니다.

Designed like a highway with separate lanes in each direction and room for passing, you can safely and speedily cruise while enjoying views of Seoul’s skylines, mountains and of course the beautiful Han River.  On weekends I love to use the path to speed along with friends in a paceline or enjoy a relaxing ride with my wife. 

서울의 자전거 길은 마치 고속도로처럼 양뱡항으로 통행이 가능합니다. 라이더는 자전거 안장 위에서 도심의 풍경과 산세 그리고 아름다운 한강을 시원하게 달리면서 감상할 수 있습니다. 서울은 도시 어느 곳에서도 강의 지류를 만날 수 있고, 모든 주요 지류를 따라 연결된 도로가 한강과 연결되어 있기에 교통 체증으로부터 자유로운 라이딩이 가능합니다.

Recently I’m enjoying using the path on my commute to work.  I ride from the northern part of the city 20km on a bike path before hopping on larger roads only for the very last part of the journey. This makes for a much more relaxed morning commute and allows me to get in some solid intervals when I’m in the mood! 

Beautiful, Challenging Climbs Provide an Urban Escape

 As a young racer growing up in Minnesota I longed to be able to easily jump onto long climbs like the ones that are all over Korea.  For serious road cyclists, challenging climbs are a must and Seoul is not lacking in this department.  The two climbs I recommend you try first are Namsan and the Bukak Skyway.  Combining these climbs into a ride is one of my training staples.

진지하게 사이클링을 즐기는 라이더들에게 업힐은 필수 코스 중 하나입니다. 서울은 도전적인 라이더들에게 부족함 없는 업힐 코스를 선사합니다. 남산과 북악 스카이웨이는 서울을 대표하는 가장 유명한 업힐 코스입니다. 이 두 코스는 서로 이어져 있고, ‘남북’으로 줄여서 언급하곤 합니다.

The Namsan climb holds a special meaning for me as I proposed to my wife at the top while on an evening group ride! The romantic night views of Seoul and well lit road make this an ideal place to ride at night with that special someone!  If you're single though don’t worry it's also a great climb to do on your own or in a group.  Who knows you might even meet some new people as the ride is very popular with local riders.

남산 업힐은 일방통행으로 1.5km의 언덕을 7%의 경사도로 올라가며 비슷한 경사도로를 내려갑니다. 남산 업힐은 자연과 함께 할 수 있으며, 언덕 아래에 보이는 놀라운 도시의 전경을 선물합니다. 남산을 내려간 후, 북악 스카이웨이로 가는 방법은 다양합니다. 서울의 빽빽한 도로를 피해 조용하게 올라갈 수 있는 다양한 루트가 있는 곳이죠. 북악 스카이웨이는 도심 속의 숲길로 두 업힐 모두 여러분이 큰 도시에 있다는 것을 잊게 만들고 매력적인 훈련기회를 제공합니다.

Night Riding

When I was 14 I used to train at night on some flat fire roads with a light on my cyclocross bike, that was until I smashed into a downed tree that I couldn’t spot fast enough! Since then, I never considered night riding to be something safe or viable until I moved to Seoul. While lights are a must, the city is very well lit and you won’t have much trouble picking your way down the high speed descents in the dark.

서울에서의 야간 그룹 라이딩은 놓쳐서는 안될 서울의 특별한 라이딩 문화입니다. 여름철에는 한강에서 라이더들이 야간에 남산과 북악 스카이웨이를 자주 오르는 모습을 목격할 수 있습니다.

Additionally, the group night rides in Seoul are a special culture that is not to be missed.  Especially during the summer, groups of riders meet at the Han River to ride together to tackle the Namsan and Bukak Skyway climbs. These group rides are one of my favorite social activities in the summer as they provide a chance to chat with riding buddies and people from the racing scene in a relaxed atmosphere.

I can promise you won’t regret getting some lights and exploring Seoul by bike at night! 

안전을 위해서는 라이트가 필수이긴 하지만, 이 도시는 야간에도 매우 밝고 안전하며, 어둠 속에서 자전거로 다운힐을 하는 것도 가능합니다. 야라는 단순히 라이딩만을 의미하지 않습니다. 라이딩 이후의 간식, 커피 혹은 맥주 한 잔의 여유도 포함되어 있죠.

Supreme Convenience

Ever bonked hard on a ride with no food or water in sight? I have numerous times both on long cold training rides in the midwest as well as on adventures out west and remember that it was usually impossible to find something to eat on most rides without careful planning.  

물과 음식을 찾을 수 없어 봉크(허기짐)가 왔던 경험이 있으신가요? 서울에서는 편의점을 어디서든 만날 수 있기에 그런 일이 일어날 가능성은 극히 낮습니다. 서울의 편의점은 연중무휴 24시간 운영되며 도시 전역에서 수백 미터 간격으로 위치하고 있어 필요할 때마다 간식과 음료를 쉽게 구할 수 있습니다.  서울에서의 라이딩이 익숙해질때쯤, 여러분은 자전거를 타러 갈 때 음식이나 물도 없이 집을 나서는 자신을 발견할 겁니다.

That is unlikely to happen in Seoul due to the abundance of convenience stores. These stores have saved me on numerous long rides.  However, after a few months of riding in Seoul you will become so accustomed to this that you might end up in the habit of leaving your house without any food or water when you head out for a ride!  I typically leave the house, then stop off to pick up food and water at a convenience store before meeting the group for a big ride on the weekend. 

Women Riders Everywhere!

The final surprising fact about riding in Seoul is that it has a much higher proportion of women’s road riders than any other place I’ve ever been.    I can count on two hands the number of female rider friends I have in the US but in Korea female friends I’ve met through cycling are far more numerous. In fact, about ⅓ of road cyclists in Seoul are women.

마지막으로, 서울 자전거 문화의 가장 인상 깊은 점 중 하나는 제가 가 본 어떤 곳보다도 여성 로드 라이더 비율이 높다는 것입니다.  서울의 도로 자전거 이용자의 약 5분의 1이 여성입니다. 이 조화로움이 서울의 사이클링을 스포츠로서 더욱 매력적으로 만듭니다. 저 또한 안장 위에서 지금의 아내를 만났죠.

There are several reasons why Seoul has more women riders than other locations.  Seoul has a friendly, supportive group riding scene which makes it easy to go on group rides without fear of getting dropped and lost.  Additionally, the ample traffic free bike paths make it much less intimidating for newbies to get out on their bikes.    

서울이 다른 도시보다 여성 라이더가 많은 이유는 여러 가지가 있습니다. 서울의 그룹 라이딩 문화는 잘 조직되어 있고 무척 호의적입니다. 길을 잃을 염려 없이 단체 라이딩을 쉽게 할 수 있다.  게다가, 자동차와 마주칠 일이 없는 한강의 자전거 도로는 초보자들이 자전거를 타고 나가는 것에 대한 부담을 덜어줍니다.

If you're a single guy, riding in Korea can be a great way to meet new friends and women.  I can personally attest to this as I met my wife thru cycling in 2018.   She is still an active rider and we do a lot of riding together in the city and in other beautiful spots around Korea which I look forward to sharing with you in future posts.

My Wife & I Riding up Bukaksan

Marriage Proposal on Namsan

Why do you need a gravel bike in Seoul?

Why do you need a gravel bike in Seoul?

It may sound strange to suggest riding a gravel bike in a city as densely populated as Seoul but technology has advanced to a point that makes them a no brainer for anyone but the most ardent racer.  The city and surrounding area is full of steep hills, bumpy roads and ample opportunities for exploration. You won’t regret riding a gravel bike in Seoul.

Never Ending Hills

Korea is 70% covered in mountains and Seoul is no exception.  The great riding this creates is one of the reasons I fell in love with riding here! However, it required a big change in gearing mindset as I had come from the midwest where the largest local climb was 1km at a 5% gradient.  After moving here, I quickly adopted a compact crankset with a 28 rear cog but the smaller gears on a gravel bike are even better. 

Gravel bike gearing makes it possible to ride at whatever pace I choose in the hilly terrain here. I’ve been racing for 20 years and can't believe I used to climb mountains in a 39x23! It is so much more comfortable to ride with a wide range of gearing and I never feel undergeared on the flats or descents. 

Bumpy Roads 

Most places with cold weather have bumpy roads and Seoul is no exception. With a normal road bike you need to pay careful attention to your lines on the bike path and roads to avoid cracks.  However, one of the things I’m enjoying most about riding a gravel bike around town is that the tires allow you to smoothly and safely blast over bumps and cracks.  This not only improves safety but boosts confidence and allows you to focus on enjoying the ride. 

Occasional single track trails for the adventurous

I’m an adventurous rider always on the lookout for a new road or trail.  The ability to explore new places is one of the main things I find exciting about cycling.  I always found it frustrating to be out on my road bike and see a dirt road or trail off to the side of the road and not be able to follow it due to the limitations of the bike.  The new gravel bikes don’t have this problem and have allowed me to find a lot of great single tracks and forest roads in and around Seoul.  

Seoul and especially the surrounding suburbs are full of nice trails and fire roads to explore.  Having a gravel bike here allows you to easily spice up the normal road rides and which helps kee

Style is King - Stand out from the crowd with a unique ride.  Talk here about my beautiful 3T Exploro Racemax. 

After a few weeks of riding in Seoul it's easy to see that riders here take their rides and cycling kits very seriously here.  Rapha kits and racy road bikes with carbon rims abound but it’s always nice to stand out from the crowd a bit.  

That’s where my 3T Exploro Racemax comes in.  With a killer paint job, all of the aero stylings of a carbon aero road bike but the large tires of a gravel bike the bike stands out not just for its performance but great looks. It’s only been a month on the bike but I’m already getting a lot of nice feedback on the bike from local riders.  Gravel in Korea is just starting to take off and it's always fun to be a trendsetter. 

Rough Roads & Spring Flowers

 

Yang Yang MCT Report (양양 MCT 후기)

 Road Racing on a Gravel Bike?

This season one of my goals was to ride the same bike in as wide a variety of events as possible. As a member of the Hustlin Racing Team which competes in the Korean Masters Cycling Tour road racing series I regularly compete in long road races.  In the most recent round of the series I decided to put the 3T Exploro Racemax to the test.  It was a resounding success as I finished reasonably well and was fully satisfied with the performance of the bike in the mountainous race.  As a result, I plan to bring the bike to more road races and criteriums this season. 

What is the MCT?

Road racing in Korea consists of two main kinds of races: Independent one day races and the season long Masters Cycling Tour (MCT).  The MCT is organized by the Korean Cycling Federation (KCF) and is raced by teams of amateur cyclists from around Korea.  In general, there is one round of the series each month from February thru July and the top 20 teams at the end of the series compete in a 3-day stage race in the fall.  All of the races are road races generally about 80 – 100km long (50-60 miles).  As this is the national amateur series of Korea the best racers in the country target these races with the peloton usually consisting of 300 riders from 35 teams! 

Course & Bike Set Up

The Yang Yang round of the series is held in the eastern part of Korea each summer.  The course consists of 3 laps of a 25km loop with a 2km long climb each lap followed by a twisty descent. The finish is a long gradually uphill drag that favors climbers over sprinters like myself.

For this race I chose the Boyd Podium Carbon 36mm Wheels with Pirelli Race Zero 26cc tires.  This made the bike feel essentially like a road bike other than having a slightly higher position and lower gearing.  

How did the bike perform? 

I felt great on the bike all race. It was stiff and responsive when climbing out of the saddle and the wheel tire combination helped me rail the descent which was important for catching back onto the main group after the long hard climb. 

The disc brakes performed amazingly giving me more confidence to carry speed on the descents and into corners.  It was also great to have a wide range of gearing for the climb.  I never felt under geared either as I was able to spin the 46 x 10 up to 65km/h on the flat sections in the pack. 

Overall, if you want one bike that truly can do it all, the 3T Exploro Racemax is a great choice if you can get a couple of different sets of wheels.  I plan to use this bike in a 3 round criterium race series starting next month!

Suffering on the climb

Railing the descent

Chillin in the pack

Santa Barbara Gravel Riding

 Santa Barbara Gravel Riding

While California usually conjures up images of beaches and sunshine there is some great gravel riding to be had in the state.  I was lucky enough to spend 3 weeks in Santa Barbara recently and get out for some gravel adventures.  When coming from out of state to ride however it’s important to be prepared as there are some unique challenges to the gravel rides in the area.

Where to find gravel roads?

Santa Barbara County is huge and most of the roads near the ocean or the Front Country as they call it are paved.   The backside of the mountains (or backcountry) is where the action starts, with numerous gravel routes in the Los Padres National Forest. These roads are virtually traffic free and provide great views of the valleys and ocean. However, unlike the Midwest gravel roads I grew up on, these roads are bumpier & rockier, 35cc or larger tires are a must for most of the gravel roads here! 

Suggested Routes

The easiest gravel routes to access from Santa Barbara start in the Santa Ynez Valley.  Parking in the main Los Padres National Forest parking lot off of Paradise Road is a great place to start.  From here there are a variety of ways to climb up and get some great views.  

Climbing to El Camino Cielo (Road) provides some amazing views of the ocean and downtown Santa Barbara. You can ride up Arroyo Burro Road or up the backside of Gibraltar Road to get there.  

The other way to go from the Paradise Road parking area is to Camuesa Road which also provides picturesque and scenic gravel riding.  This route and many others in the area are also good as out and backs. 

Safety Considerations

I love getting out for a great solo ride especially on some nice gravel roads but unfortunately that isn’t a very good idea on most of the gravel courses in the area.  Cell phone service is virtually non-existent on the routes in the backcountry and many of the roads are only open to non motorized traffic making it difficult to get picked up. For this reason it is very important to always ride with a friend and bring proper tools to fix your bike. 

The other consideration is bringing enough food and water. While it is nearly always cool in the mornings things can heat up quickly as you get further from the coastline.  Temperatures in the 90s are common in the afternoons and the hot sun combined with a lack of shade makes things feel even hotter.  Given the extremely remote nature of the rides there typically isn’t anywhere to get food or water so it’s important to bring enough for your entire ride.   

Happy Trails!

Rough Conditions

And some smooth parts too

 

Well Worth the Views

Gold Hill Ride

 Having recently come back from 3 weeks in Boulder I wanted to share my favorite ride from the trip! The Gold Hill Loop has it all including great views, nice gradual climbs, hard packed gravel and a fun fast descent.  The destination town of Gold Hill looks like something straight out of a western movie and features a great general store to stop and have a coke. 

What is Gold Hill? 

Gold Hill is a small old mining town in the mountains above Boulder, Colorado.  The town was built over 150 years ago and most of the buildings haven’t changed since then! There are old broken down trucks scattered throughout town plus an old hotel & a general store on Main Street.  The Gold Hill General Store & Pub is a favorite resting place for cyclists to stop for a coke and some snacks mid ride.  There is a welcoming atmosphere and usually other cyclists hang out so be sure to stop by! (https://www.goldhillstore.com/) 

The Gold Hill Loop

The traditional Gold Hill Loop leaves Boulder on a bike path going up along Boulder Canyon Road (CO 119).  The bike path is smooth gravel and is shared with walkers so it's important to take it easy for the first few miles of the ride.  Once you climb out of town the bike path intersects with 4 Mile Canyon Road.  

Four Mile Canyon is a beautifully paved, winding and gradual road.  If you're in good shape you can even put it in the big ring for some fun! The road is mostly lined with beautiful pine trees and loosely follows a creek.  After passing through the small town of Salinas the road turns to dirt up to Gold Hill.  

The final climb is 4 miles of steep dirt before you reach the town of Gold Hill.  Be sure to ride around a bit in Gold Hill and stop by the Gold Hill General Store & Pub for a snack.  

The final part of the ride blasts down to Boulder on Sunshine Canyon Road.  This fun descent is gravel for the first few miles so be sure to be careful on the switch backs.  Keeping your speed down will let you enjoy the sweeping views below as well!

What kind of bike do you need?

The Gold Hill loop features about 8 miles of smooth gravel road and could be done on a road bike by a seasoned rider.  However, you will have a lot more fun on a gravel bike as the bigger tires will be more comfortable and confidence inspiring on the dirt roads.  Additionally, the smaller gears will be useful on the steeper parts of 4 Mile Canyon Road.  A bike like the 3T Exploro Racemax is a perfect ride for this loop.  The stiff, racy feel lets you power up the climbs while feeling confident on the downhill and it allows you to run 40cc tires which are about the ideal size for the varied road conditions you encounter. 

The Switzerland Trail

If the main Gold Hill Loop isn’t providing enough challenge for you I recommend incorporating parts of the Switzerland Trail which is further up in the mountains behind Gold Hill.  This single lane road was originally built as a railroad and now serves as a playground for gravel bikes.  There are 4 different sections of the Switzerland Trail to incorporate into the ride which all feature great riding and even better views.  Check out the link for more information https://bit.ly/3SFlSjT.

Gold Hill Store

Climbing to Gold Hill

Suffering up the last bit of climbing!